Gastrointestinal lymphomas. Immunohistochemical studies on the cell of origin.

The classification of primary malignant lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract by their cell of origin has been a subject of great controversy in recent years, with the proportion of histologic subtypes varying substantially in different published series. Much of this controversy was initially due to the widely recognized inherent difficulty of classifying lymphomas based on routine histologic sections alone. However, the advent of immunohistochemical techniques has also yielded disparate results. Particularly contentious has been the notion of true histiocytic lymphomas, which some investigators have claimed to be relatively frequent in the gastrointestinal tract, whereas others doubt whether they exist at all. We present here a classification of 25 gastrointestinal lymphomas seen in the surgical pathology services of UCLA Hospital and Stanford University Medical Center. Unlike all previously reported series, we have utilized frozen tissue sections for the performance of immunohistochemical studies, which we and others have found to be far more reliable than the use of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, particularly in detecting monoclonal surface staining of immunoglobulin light- and heavy-chain markers. We find that this technique lessens the likelihood of overinterpreting the stains for histiocyte markers (alpha 1-antitrypsin and lysozyme), which are often difficult to read owing to strong positive staining of benign reactive histiocytes within the tumor. Utilizing these techniques, we have been able to classify definitely 21 of our 25 lymphomas (84%) as of B-cell origin, whereas none appeared to be histiocytic. We conclude that true histiocytic lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract must be very rare, and we recommend the routine use of frozen tissue sections for more accurate classification of these interesting lesions.

Treatment of tachyarrhythmias in a patient with the long QT syndrome by autotransplantation of the heart and sinus node-triggered atrial pacing.

The case history of a 37-year-old woman with the long QT syndrome and drug-refractory paroxysmal ventricular tachyarrhythmias is reported. She was resuscitated eight times between 1980 and 1987. The duration of these attacks increased from a few minutes to 8 hours and the interval between them decreased from 2 years to 4 weeks. An autotransplantation was performed of the anatomically and hemodynamically normal heart. She has had normal QT intervals and has been free of tachyarrhythmias since the operation in June 1987. Because of a slow escape low atrial rhythm, she was treated with a dual-chamber pacemaker programmed in the VDD mode with a coupling interval of 15 msec. The pacemaker wires were connected to the nontransplanted atrial cuff ("atrial" wire) and the transplanted atrium ("ventricular" wire). The hemodynamic effect of the resultant sinus node-driven low atrial pacing was restoration of normal values. This is the first report of successful autotransplantation of the heart for ventricular tachyarrhythmias caused by the long QT syndrome.

The safety of treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin in clinical use: a review of controlled studies.

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has now been approved for the treatment of renal anemia, anemia of prematurity, cancer-associated anemia, AIDS-associated anemia and as concomitant treatment for patients with or without autologous blood donation awaiting elective surgery. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview, based on the results of controlled studies, of the anticipated safety profile of rhEPO in various indications and to assess whether treatment with rhEPO influences the incidences of certain adverse events in these indications. The anticipated adverse events differ from indication to indication and generally reflect the corresponding underlying illness. With most indications, no relevant differences in the incidences of adverse events are observed between rhEPO and placebo-control/patients. Only in the rhEPO therapy of renal anemia is an increased incidence of hypertensive events observed in the rhEPO groups, a finding that is not reproduced with the other indications. The controlled studies forming the basis of this review provide no evidence of a relevant increase in the risk of thromboembolic events during rhEPO therapy. Overall, it may be stated that rhEPO treatment, where strictly indicated, is a safe form of therapy. As with any other treatment, the risk of side effects in certain predisposed patients must also be weighed against the desired clinical benefits.

[Treatment of tachyarrhythmia in a patient with long QT syndrome by autologous heart transplantation and atrial stimulation controlled by the sinoatrial node]. / Lechenie takhiaritmii u bolnoi s sindromom udlinennogo intervala Q-T s pomoshch'iu autotransplantatsii serdtsa i stimuliatsii predserdii, upravliaemoi sinusovym uzlom.

The authors described an operation performed in a female patient aged 37 years who was first examined in 1980. That year she experienced the first ventricular fibrillation episode. The duration of the Q-T interval was 600 msec. She was examined by a comprehensive protocol which enabled coronary abnormalities to be excluded. The operation was made in July 1987 in the Charite Hospital by Dr. Warnke. The operation involved dissection of the nerve connections nearest the heart by cutting the pulmonary artery, aorta, both atria and subsequently suturing by the scheme used in cardiac grafting. The patient rapidly recovered after the surgery. She had a normal Q-T interval and no recurrences of ventricular tachycardias. Following the surgery she displayed disturbances of intraatrial conduction and pacemaker displacement into the lower segments of the right atrium, so she was implanted a DDD-mode pacemaker.

[Potential use of the sauna in the long-term treatment of hypertensive cardiovascular circulation disorders--a comparison with kinesiotherapy]. / Möglichkeiten des Einsatzes der Sauna in der Langzeitbehandlung von hypertonen Herz-Kreislauf-Regulationsstörungen--ein Vergleich zur Kinesiotherapie.

The authors report about the long-term response (one and three years) of blood pressure and heart frequency under rest and load (50 W) in patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease, essential hypertension and after aortocoronary venous-bypass operation (ACVB) (n = 65) under regular visits (twice a week) to the Finnish sauna. In comparison, 68 hypertensive patients who took a regular kinesiotherapy (running and swimming) were studied. Besides the parameters of heart circulation mentioned above, peripheric microcirculation (M. tibialis anterior) by means of xenon-133 muscle clearance and central hemodynamics by means of LVEF (single probe with In 113) were studied in CHD-patients. Cardiac output at rest and under 50 W load was recorded in hypertensive patients. It was shown that regular balneotherapy had a positive effect on regulation of blood pressure and hemodynamics in patients with hypertension or CHD with hypertension, as had kinesiotherapy in hypertensive patients.

[Nosocomial infections and sternum osteomyelitis]. / Nosokomiale Infektionen und die Sternumosteomyelitis.

A prospective study of the nosocomial infection rate in the Department of Cardiac Surgery of the Surgical Clinic (Charité) was done between January and December 1987. The investigation was performed computer aided. Data were recorded by an infection register. From 474 hospitalized operated patients 66 (14%) had some kind of nosocomial infection: at the first place wound infections with 5.1% (sternum osteomyelitis 2.1%), respiratory infections with 3.8% and infections of the urogenital system with 3.4%. The way of infection, selected predisposing and exposing factors, the microbacterial spectrum of wound infection, the antimicrobacterial chemotherapeutic strategy and surgical therapy are analyzed and demonstrated.

[Operations with a heart-lung machine in adult members of Jehovah's Witnesses]. / Operationen mit der Herz-Lungen-Maschine bei erwachsenen Patienten der Glaubensgemeinschaft "Zeugen Jehovahs".

Members of Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions and blood products under any circumstances. Because of an improvement in blood salvage techniques in our centre, they are not excluded from open-heart surgery. In recent years recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has been applied to correct perioperative anemia in these patients. METHODS. Seventeen members of Jehovah's Witnesses who were more than 18 years of age were operated on using various blood salvage technique, e.g., haemoseparation and a high dose of Aprotinin. We present the first three patients treated with 4 x 500 U of i.v. rhEPO/kg body wt. given within 11 days preoperatively. Thirteen of the patients operated on had elevated preoperative risk factors, for instance poor left ventricle, severe aortic valve stenosis, metabolic syndrome, age older than 70 years, etc. In other centres that perform cardiac operations on members of Jehovah's Witnesses, these risk factors represent contraindications for open-heart surgery in these patients. RESULTS. Patients with rhEPO treatment showed a preoperative hematocrit increase of 7 Vol.% within 10 days and no postoperative complications. At the 6th postoperative hour the hematocrit returned to the starting values; in patients without rhEPO, however, the hematocrit generally had not increased to preoperative values even by the 8th day after operation. In 9 patients with preoperative elevated risk factors and a postoperative relative decrease in hematocrit below 33% we observed an uncomplicated postoperative period. Four patients with these risk factors, a pronounced decrease in hematocrit and blood loss postoperatively had various severe complications. CONCLUSIONS. Preoperative treatment with a high dose of rhEPO to enhance the hematocrit and maturity by precursor red blood cells in patients with a hematocrit below 45 Vol.% is a possibility to compensate for the blood loss perioperatively and to avoid complications from a decrease in oxygen transport capacity. The anaemia and high blood loss postoperatively are the main causes for a slightly elevated operation risk in members of Jehovah's Witnesses in all heart centres that perform cardiac operations on these patients. Nevertheless, Jehovah's Witnesses should be not excluded from cardiac operations, since open-heart surgery without use of homologous blood is becoming a routine procedure.

[Non-medicinal therapy tachycardiac arrhythmias]. / Nichtmedikamentöse Therapie tachykarder Herzrhythmusstörungen.

The conservative antiarrhythmic treatment was improved by the introduction of the Holter-ECG technique, of the serial electrophysiological testing and by new antiarrhythmic drugs. An essential enhancement of the therapeutic possibilities, particularly when ineffectiveness, proarrhythmic action or intolerance of the medicaments are existing, are increasingly the non-medicamentous techniques of the antiarrhythmic therapy. Thus the treatment of arrhythmia has become by far more effective, but at the same time also more complicated and more expensive. Between 1980 and 1989 altogether 53 patients were treated with anti-tachycardiac pacemakers (25), with an ablation of the bundle of His by means of catheter-mediated DC-shock application (20), with a direct surgical interruption of the bundle of Kent (5) as well as with the implantation of an automatic cardioverter/defibrillator (3). Indications, techniques and results of the individual methods are represented.

[Surgical problems of aortic isthmus stenosis]. / Chirurgische Probleme bei der Aortenisthmusstenose im Säuglingsalter.

Operations were performed on 84 infants for coarctation of the aorta between 1970 and 1987. An analysis was made of the results recorded from 45 of them (1983-1987). The youngest child had been two days of age. Additional cardiac (1983-1987). The youngest child had been two days of age. Additional cardiac defects were recordable from more than 60 per cent, while pulmonary pressures were above 75 in 50 per cent. Different surgical techniques were used and are recommended. The two-stage procedure was preferred in cases of associated intracardiac defects.

[2d operations in coronary artery surgery]. / Zweitoperationen in der Koronarchirurgie.

In coronary heart surgery, reoperations are performed on about seven per cent of all cases, primarily for progressive coronary artery sclerosis and sclerosis in autologous bypass veins. The problems relating to progressive coronary artery sclerosis and bypass sclerosis are expounded in this paper by the example of 14 patients, with reference being made to indications for recurrent surgical intervention for vascular reconstruction. Particular emphasis is laid on the surgical approach. With the given risk tolerable, coronary reoperation, today, is a genuine alternative in the treatment of recurrent angina pectoris, following bypass surgery. It is likely to enhance the patient's life expectancy and quality of life.

[Castaneda-de Leval's modified Fontan operation in complex cyanotic defects with subsequent percutaneous transluminal embolization of systemic pulmonary collaterals]. / Modifizierte Fontan-Operation (nach Castaneda-de Leval) bei komplexem zyanotischem Vitium mit nachfolgender perkutaner transluminaler Embolisation von system-pulmonalen Kollateralen (PTE).

The case of a five year old boy with a double-inlet-left-ventricle and the aorta in 1-malposition, large VSD, ASD and pulmonary stenosis is reported, that showed after modified Fontan surgery severe effusions and a severe protein loss syndrome. Aortopulmonary collaterals were detected as the cause of this and successfully treated in several sessions by percutaneous transluminal embolization.

[Heart valve replacement with myocardial revascularization]. / Herzklappenersatz mit myokardialer Revaskularisation.

Coexisting coronary artery insufficiency includes risks to patients with valvular heart disease, thus complicating management. In 15 patients requiring aortic or mitral valve replacement preoperative coronary angiography demonstrated severe coronary stenoses which were treated by bypass grafts with valve surgery. These combined operations turned out to be safe and effective.

[Surgical therapy of acute myocardial infarction]. / Chirurgische Therapie des akuten Myokardinfarktes.

All over the world the therapy of acute myocardial infarction has concentrated upon saving the ischaemically injured, but still viable cells of the myocardium. Also the acute coronary surgery, which among our groups of coronary-surgical patients has a proportion of 3.5% with 41 patients, answers this purpose. The preferred indication groups for acute coronary-surgical operations are the occlusion of the vessel after coronary dilation and the condition after intracoronary fibrinolysis. In these 22 patients the hospital lethality was only 4.5%. The reasonable active approach in acute myocardial infarction, particularly the combination fibrinolysis - acute coronary surgery, is a hopeful enlargement of the previous therapy for the highly imperilled patients with myocardial infarction.

[Coronary ventricular fistulas in patients with heart transplants]. / Koronarventrikuläre Fisteln bei herztransplantierten Patienten.

In detailed angiographic follow-up examinations in patients after heart transplantation, coronary artery-ventricular fistulas were observed in two of ten patients. In one patient, in the first postoperative year, 19 right ventricular biopsy procedures were performed obtaining a total of 71 tissue specimens and one year after transplantation, additionally, three specimens were obtained from the left ventricle. Coronary angiography demonstrated a fistula from the first anterior ventricular branch of the right coronary artery into the right ventricle (Figure 1) as well as a second smaller fistula between from a septal perforator of the left anterior descending artery into the left ventricle. At follow-up angiography two months later, the fistulas were unchanged in site and extent (Figure 2). Angiographically there was diffuse hypokinesis of the right ventricle and moderate tricuspid regurgitation. In the second patient, in the first year after transplantation, 20 right ventricular biopsy procedures were performed obtaining a total of 80 tissue specimens. One year after transplantation coronary angiography showed a fistula between a septal perforator of the left anterior descending artery into the right ventricle (Figure 3) which, two months later, was unchanged in morphology and, as in the first case, the size of the shunt was small. Angiographically, there was moderate tricuspid regurgitation and apical hypokinesis of the left ventricle. If a relationship between the fistulas and biopsies is postulated, from a total 196 biopsy procedures obtaining 748 tissue specimens, the rate of this complication would be calculated at 1.5%. It cannot be ruled out, however, that the fistulas had been congenitally present in the donor hearts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)